Standing Up for Our Community: Protecting Public Land from Unsuitable Development

Liberal Democrat councillors Suraj Gyawali and Harry Boparai are standing shoulder to shoulder with residents in Catherine Drive, Avon Road and Dale Road to oppose an inappropriate development on land that is vital to the local community.

The site in question is not just any piece of land. It is an Adopted Highway, maintained at public expense by Surrey County Council, and intended for public use. It is also designated Urban Open Land and listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). Despite these protections, a developer has brought forward a proposal that would remove this shared community space, damage the environment, and undermine the character of the estate.

Residents are rightly alarmed. The development would be out of keeping with the planned estate, visually intrusive, and detrimental to the carefully designed street scene. It would also result in the loss of valuable green space, with no equivalent public benefit in return. To make matters worse, the scheme threatens protected trees—a key part of the local environment—and early evidence suggests that the land may be contaminated, raising concerns about health and safety.

The community’s response has been nothing short of inspiring. More than 140 residents have already signed formal objections, with many more submitting individual representations online. Households across Catherine Drive, Avon Road and Dale Road are uniting in opposition, determined to protect a piece of land they use and value every day.

But this is not an isolated case. Across the borough, we are seeing developers attempting to take their chances on small plots of land—often ones that serve as vital green space or public assets. These speculative applications disrupt the balance of our communities, erode trust, and chip away at the harmony and spirit that make our neighbourhoods special.

Cllr Suraj Gyawali says "It is important to emphasise the strength of local feeling on this matter. Residents hold this land in the highest regard and are determined to see it protected. Households from Catherine Drive, Avon Road, and Dale Road—who are regular users of the land—are now coordinating a collective objection.

As Liberal Democrats, we believe our role is clear: to defend the integrity of our estates, protect green spaces, and ensure that development works with communities rather than against them. We are committed to making sure residents’ voices are heard loud and clear at every stage of the process.

This fight is about more than one piece of land. It is about standing up for the principle that public spaces, community assets, and local character must not be sacrificed for short-term gain. Together, with the residents we represent, we will continue to press the Planning Inspectorate to reject this damaging proposal and to protect the places that matter most to our community.